Full bibliography
Ofício do assistente do magistrado do distrito de Xiangshan, Xing, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a participação minuciosa às autoridades sínicas das quantidades de mercadorias, canhão e passageiros dos navios que partem do porto de Macau
Transcription
Page 1
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T27
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T27 35+
[Stamp — top center]
[Red rectangular seal with illegible characters, circled in black ink]
[Stamp — left margin, near top]
[Red rectangular seal: 乾隆三十二年九月]
[Main text]
特授廣州府香山縣左堂加三級紀錄八次又軍功紀錄二次興○為報明
現據該夷目稟報據十一號船主啤度廬山度地古曾蘇報
本年十月初一日開往小西洋貿易等情據此隨查該夷目
報本澳洋船開往別國貿易所開船上商梢砲械貨物均屬
無幾並不據定開報先經檄行該夷目查明按照船上商梢
砲械貨物實數開報在案今經日久未據稟報殊屬玩延茲
據前情合亟飭查為此牌仰該夷目唻囉哆等急照先令
事理立將前項所報各號洋船寔在上商梢砲械貨物刻日據
實開報毋得混行捏飾致干未便速之須牌
[Signature]
右牌仰夷目唻囉哆准此
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限五日繳
[Marginalia — left margin, middle]
[Red vertical character: 行]
[Marginalia — center left]
[Red character: 初八日]
[Stamp — center right]
[Red circular seal: 速]
[Archival mark — center]
T27 F94Y
Translation
Page 1
[Page]
T27
[Marginalia — top right]
T27 35+
[Stamp — top centre]
[Red rectangular seal bearing illegible characters, circled in black ink]
[Stamp — left margin, near top]
[Red rectangular seal inscribed: *Qianlong 32nd year, ninth lunar month* (i.e., October–November 1767)]
[Main text]
By special appointment, Deputy Magistrate of Xiangshan County, Guangzhou Prefecture; with three additional ranks conferred; eight entries recorded in the Imperial Merit Register; and two further commendations for military service—Xing ○
To the Foreign Superintendent (Yìmù) for official notification:
It has now been reported to this office by the said Foreign Superintendent that, on the authority of the master of vessel no. 11, one Pedro Luís de Góis e Sousa, the said vessel departed Macau on the first day of the tenth lunar month of the present year (i.e., 25 October 1767) for commercial trade in the Lesser Western Ocean (*Xiǎo Xīyáng*, a Qing-era designation for the Indian Ocean and adjacent waters, particularly the Persian Gulf and western Indian littoral).
Upon examination, it is confirmed that the said Foreign Superintendent has reported the departure of foreign vessels from Macau for trade in other countries. However, the declared numbers of merchants, crew, cannons, firearms, and cargo aboard these vessels are manifestly low—and no prior formal declaration specifying the precise figures was submitted, as required.
This office previously issued an official dispatch (*xí*) instructing the Foreign Superintendent to conduct a thorough verification and submit, without delay, an accurate and itemised return detailing the actual number of merchants and crew, armaments (including cannons and small arms), and cargo carried aboard each vessel. That instruction remains formally on record.
Yet, despite the passage of considerable time, no such verified report has been received—constituting a serious instance of administrative negligence and procedural delay (*wán yán*).
In light of the above, this official notice is hereby issued.
You, the Foreign Superintendents Lāiluōduō et al., are hereby directed—pursuant to the aforementioned order—to ascertain forthwith the true and exact particulars concerning merchants, crew, armaments (cannons and firearms), and cargo aboard the vessels previously reported, and to submit a full, verified statement without further delay. Under no circumstances shall any false, inflated, or fabricated information be included; such misconduct would entail serious administrative consequences. Act with urgency.
[Signature]
This official notice is directed to the Foreign Superintendent Lāiluōduō. Let it be so executed.
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To be returned within five days.
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[Red vertical character: *Xíng* — ‘to be implemented’ / ‘executed’]
[Marginalia — centre left]
[Red character: *Chūbā rì* — ‘Eighth day [of the lunar month]’ (i.e., 1 November 1767)]
[Stamp — centre right]
[Red circular seal inscribed: *Sù* — ‘Urgent’]
[Archival mark — centre]
T27 F94Y